Category: Maintenance

When leaving the military, it’s common for Veterans to look for careers in the civilian world that will allow them to utilize the training they received in the armed forces. For example, military pilots and aircraft mechanics often put their skills to work in the airline industry when their active duty responsibilities are complete.

Marine Corps Veteran and GoJet Director of Maintenance did just that. Prior to his airline career, Jeff spent five years as an Avionics Technician in the U.S. Marine Corps, where he ensured that Maine Corps aircraft, including AV-8B Harrier jets, were mission capable.

When Jeff left active duty, he found that his avionics skills were very marketable in the civilian world. He was recruited by a St. Louis-based regional airline, where he went on to spend over 15 years holding progressively responsible Tech Ops positions before joining GoJet as its new Director of Maintenance in early 2017.

With the exception of combat situations, Jeff says that the major difference between military and commercial aviation is the activity level of the aircraft that technicians work on. “If you’re an Avionics Technician stationed at a military base, you’re primarily going to work on a fleet that’s grounded, but still needs to be ready to go at a moment’s notice,” he said. “But an airline is a business, and every decision you make is hyper-focused on keeping aircraft in the air.”

Despite having an office at GoJet’s corporate headquarters, Jeff always looks for opportunities to get his hands dirty at the maintenance hangar. “Who likes sitting in an office all day?” he laughed. “Plus, getting in the trenches gives me the opportunity to interact with our front line mechanics.”

Even though his active duty days are behind him, Jeff says that the camaraderie he has with his co-workers at GoJet reminds him of the relationships he had with his fellow soldiers in the Marines.

“I found a good group of people in the military,” Jeff recalls, “and it was the same when I joined GoJet. I love working with the people in this company, just like I loved working with the people in my squadron.”

GoJet Airlines is a proud supporter of our men and women in uniform. We value military leadership, and are proud that many Veterans like Jeff have chosen GoJet for their civilian careers.

Detroit Maintenance Manager Rio Publico and Detroit Lead Stores Clerk Ann Jones have worked together since 2011, and have always had a good rapport, both in and out of the office. Last fall, the two were attending a group training session at GoJet’s corporate headquarters in St. Louis, when the unthinkable happened. While on a break, Ann and Rio were walking to a local grocery store, when Rio went into cardiac arrest and stopped breathing.

“I don’t remember this,” Rio says, “but Ann told me that I stopped, told her to hold on, and then I collapsed.” Ann called 911, and the dispatcher told Ann that she would have to restart Rio’s heart while paramedics were en route. “As soon as he said that, I started freaking out,” Ann remembers. “Because it hadn’t dawned on me until that point that there was a possibility that he could die. I’d received CPR training in the past, but had never had to use it.”

The dispatcher walked Ann through what to do, and Rio took a deep breath just before paramedics arrived. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where he regained consciousness over an hour later. When he woke up, Ann was the first person that he asked for.

While Rio was in the hospital, Ann personally called Rio’s wife, Donna, to let her know what had happened. “I know how unnerving it is to receive an unexpected phone call from a hospital,” Ann said. “I wanted her to hear the news from a friendly voice.” Ann looked after Rio during his recovery, and still keeps an eye on his health. “I made sure that he only ate healthy foods, and I still do to this day. Donna only sends him healthy food for lunch, and I make sure that he eats it all.”

Both Rio and Donna consider Ann to be his guardian angel. Incredibly, Rio’s heart attack in St. Louis was not the first time that Ann has saved his life. A few years ago, Ann had to call 911 when Rio had a stroke at work. “We were laughing and talking with our boss in the room,” Ann recalls, “when suddenly, Rio told me to call 911. At first, I thought that he was joking. Then he yelled at me to call, because he couldn’t feel his arm.”

“I started stuttering, my side started tingling, and my speech was slurring,” Rio adds. “If Ann hadn’t been there both times, I may have sustained permanent, physical damage, or not even be alive today. She has been a real saving grace.”

Ann jokes that she is not ready for Rio to experience another medical emergency any time soon. “Both of these situations were very scary – I could use a break,” she laughs.

Congratulations to Fleet Support Coordinator Ben Dunbar, who has been named to the AMT Next Gen 40 Under 40 List! Aircraft Maintenance Technology Magazine launched this recognition program to shine a light on the benefits of a career in aircraft maintenance and to inspire the next generation of aviation professionals.

This annual contest recognizes aircraft maintenance professionals who have challenged themselves professionally by taking advantage of training opportunities that have allowed them to continue learning and progress in their careers. In addition, the individuals selected have made contributions to the industry as a whole, and make the industry safer by maintaining aircraft to the highest possible standards.

GoJet Director of Maintenance, Aaron Armstrong, isn’t surprised that Ben was selected for this prestigious award. “Ben brings a phenomenal skill set to our team, and this recognition is well-deserved,” he remarked. “Ben’s constant desire to learn more has an enormous influence on those around him.”

At GoJet, safety is our top priority. Ben, along with every other GoJet employee, has dedicated his career to the safety of our aircraft and passengers, and he embodies that commitment each and every day.

Click hereto read the write up on Ben and his accomplishments in the November/December 2016 issue of Aircraft Maintenance Technology.

The majority of our passengers have most likely never heard the term “Maintenance Control.” However, the safety and timeliness of our flights depends on this important group of GoJet employees. This department is critical to keeping our airplanes safe, our flights on schedule, and our passengers happy.

Maintenance Controllers are licensed A & P mechanics who troubleshoot aircraft mechanical issues for our pilots and mechanics at out stations. If a GoJet pilot encounters a mechanical issue with an aircraft anywhere in the country, their first call is to Maintenance Control. Often, Maintenance Control can help the pilot correct the issue over the phone, which allows our out-station mechanics to focus on more involved repairs. However, if it’s a more complicated problem, Maintenance Control will diagnose the likely source of the problem and recommended a course of action to local mechanics.

Our line and hangar mechanics are always outside fixing aircraft, regardless of weather conditions. Whether it’s snow in New York or a sizzling summer in Raleigh, our line and hangar mechanics have to be outside to get the job done. However, our Maintenance Controllers work inside Systems Operations Control (or the SOC) at our corporate headquarters in St. Louis. That’s because Maintenance Control interfaces with many different departments, including Crew Scheduling and Dispatch, which are located in the SOC. For example, if a flight is delayed due to a maintenance issue, Dispatch and Crew Scheduling rely on Maintenance Control to tell them to estimated fix time so that the flight can be re-scheduled and re-crewed, if necessary. Or if an aircraft can’t be fixed in time to operate a scheduled flight, Dispatch relies on Maintenance Control to recover the flight with a different aircraft.

Maintenance Controllers have a lot on their plate, to say the least. In addition to troubleshooting problems on aircraft that are often hundreds of miles away from them and developing recovery options for out of service aircraft, they are also responsible for scheduling short-term preventative maintenance, as well as for monitoring repeat repairs. And while a line or hangar mechanic can only work on one aircraft at a time, Maintenance Controllers are tackling dozens of issues at once.

Maintenance Controller George Thomas

“When I was a line mechanic, I just had one plane in front of me, and I was only working on one task at a time,” explains Maintenance Controller George Thomas. “Now, I’m simultaneously working on on multiple planes, crews, and issues, which always keeps me busy.” Maintenance Controller Steven Perez agrees. “You’ll be going in different directions all day, so you need to make sure that you keep a cool head.”

Both George and Steve agree that the benefits of working in Maintenance Control outweigh the pressures of the job. In addition to working inside out of the elements, a move to Maintenance Control also comes with a considerable pay increase. And both George and Steve enjoy the people that they work with and take a great deal of satisfaction in knowing that the work that they do is so important.

“I work with great people, and there’s a fraternal atmosphere among all of us,” George remarked. “And when you know that you’re helping 30 to 50 crews and hundreds of passengers each day, it’s a very rewarding feeling.”

Steve feels the same way. “I work in a really good environment with like-minded professionals,” Steve says. “We all take a lot of pride in keeping our planes in the air.”

Given the enormous responsibilities that Maintenance Controllers have, Maintenance Control isn’t the place for someone right out of A & P school. Maintenance Controllers have to have a good systematic understanding of our CRJ700/900 aircraft, as well as the ability and confidence to make split second decisions that can effect the entire fleet. Plus, good communications skills are key, as Maintenance Controllers must be able to communicate effectively across departments.

“No department has a greater impact on Tech Ops overall performance than Maintenance Control,” said Aaron Armstrong, GoJet’s Director of Maintenance. “A single Maintenance Controller is going to make more independent decisions in a day than a line mechanic makes in month.”

“Maintenance Control isn’t for everyone,” adds Rob Truax, GoJet’s VP of Tech Ops. “We set the bar for Maintenance Controllers incredibly high – they represent some of our best and brightest Maintenance talent.”

GoJet is currently offering a $12,000 retention bonus to current and new hire Maintenance Controllers. If you’re a licensed and experienced A & P mechanic and want to make a big impact on the operation, Maintenance Control might be a perfect fit for you. Click here to learn more and apply online.

Employee Appreciation Week is one of our favorite weeks of the year! This week-long event, packed with food, games, and prizes, is our way of saying thank you to our employees for all of their hard work This year’s festivities wrapped up last Friday, and everyone is still talking about all of the fun they had.

One of the best things about Employee Appreciation Week is the food! In Chicago, Base Manager Tracy Ryan kept the crew room stocked with candy and other goodies throughout the week. Her queso dip with chips and salsa was a huge hit! Tracy also delivered Subway sandwiches planeside to crews with fast turns.

The Raleigh-Durham base had a similar agenda, offering a smorgasbord of treats each day. All kinds of candy bars were available on Monday, while Tuesday featured “grab and go” breakfasts for the crew members. Throughout the week, crews also feasted on nachos, cupcakes and pizza.

At the St. Louis base, Base Manager Nikki Lutz worked hard keeping the crews fed all week, and even held a barbecue right on the ramp!

In addition to the food and festivities, each crew base gave away a FitBit!

At the St. Louis headquarters on Tuesday, corporate leaders threw a “come as you are” breakfast (which was pajamas for many) for all employees, complete with a caricature booth and balloon artist. The leadership team manned griddles and hotplates, and served up an impressive spread that included sausage, eggs, pancakes, and even a smoothie bar. And of course, President Rick Leach and GoJet COO Terry Basham held their annual competition to see whose pancakes were the most popular (we ran out of both, so we’re called it a tie!).

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Other events throughout the week included the very popular “Take Your Dog To Work Day,” a gourmet cupcake truck, and a friendly game of Family Feud that pitted GoJet employees against employees of our sister carrier, Trans States Airlines.

One of the biggest events of the week was the annual washers tournament. This year was the tournament’s biggest year yet, with 35 teams participating. Our Maintenance department has established a washers dynasty over the years, and many teams from other departments were eager to de-throne them. However, Maintenance remained dominant again this year, and we again had a Maintenance vs. Maintenance championship game!

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Maintenance remained dominant later in the week, winning the annual tug-of-war showdown between the Maintenance hangar and corporate office employees.

The Maintenance Hangar defeats the corporate office employees in tug-of-war….again!

Josh Krueger, a shift inspector at the GoJet maintenance hangar in St. Louis, never thought that he’d be working in aviation. In fact, as a kid, he always thought that he would be a car mechanic when he grew up. However, an aviation maintenance program offered at his local high school in Michigan opened his eyes to a career path that he’d never considered. Before long, Josh knew that he wanted to work in aeronautics, and went on to earn his Airframe and Powerplant license from the Michigan Institute of Aviation and Technology after finishing high school.

Josh’s first job in aviation was as a line mechanic for another regional airline, where he spent several years before leaving to accept a corporate aviation inspector position. In 2011, after three years in corporate aviation, Josh was offered a Shift Inspector position with GoJet, and has been part of the GoJet family ever since.

At GoJet, the safety of our passengers and crew is always our number one priority, and as a Shift Inspector, Josh plays an important role in the safety of our operation. Josh is essentially an extra set of eyes that double check the work of our line mechanics, and his top priority is making sure that all maintenance work done on our aircraft is done in accordance with the highest possible safety standards.

When asked what his favorite thing about his job is, Josh is quick to reply, “The people I work with.” Josh describes the GoJet maintenance team as a close-knit family and the type of place where your co-workers are always there for you. He’s impressed by the vast collective knowledge pool of the GoJet maintenance team, which he attributes to the fact that GoJet mechanics come from a wide variety of aviation backgrounds, including military, corporate and commercial aviation.

Josh also likes that there’s no such thing as a “normal day” for him. “Each day brings something different and unexpected,” says Josh. “I could show up to work in St. Louis and the next thing I know, be on my way to Albuquerque to help fix an airplane.”

Outside of work, Josh’s focus is on being a dad and spending time with his family. Josh and his wife have a three-year-old daughter and are looking forward to welcoming their second daughter early next year.

Josh is just one of the many talented aviation professionals working behind the scenes to ensure that we operate a safe airline each and every day. We’re proud that Josh has chosen to call GoJet home!

We’re looking for more driven and talented individuals like Josh to fill maintenance positions at our St. Louis, Raleigh-Durham and New York (LaGuardia and JFK) maintenance bases. GoJet mechanics enjoy a top-tier pay scale, and we pay for experience. Plus, GoJet promotes from within whenever possible, giving our employees significant opportunity for advancement. We’re currently hiring both experienced aircraft mechanics, as well as newly licensed mechanics looking for the right place to launch their careers. Click here to learn more.

A lifelong fascination with planes is what started Wes Perkins down the path that ultimately led to GoJet Airlines. When he realized that his love of planes could translate into a career path, Wes made the decision to study aviation in college, graduating from the University of Central Missouri with a degree in Aviation Maintenance Management in 2005. After college, Wes joined the Maintenance team at Trans States Airlines, where he spent nearly a decade working in Production Area Control, as well as assisting with heavy checks and lease returns.

Wes was hired by the GoJet in February of 2014 as a Fleet Support Coordinator, a position he held for just over a year. He was recently promoted to Senior Manager, Maintenance Control and Line Operations, a newly created position where he is responsible for the overall quality, efficiency and safety of Maintenance Control and Maintenance Line Stations, as well as for their adherence to regulatory and company policy. Wes says that the most enjoyable part of his new position is visiting the stations and learning from employees first-hand what they need to be efficient.

Wes lives in Winfield, Missouri with his wife, a fourth grade teacher, and their two children. When he’s not working, Wes enjoys hunting and fishing, as well as using his non-rev privileges to visit family in Washington State.

Three little known facts about Wes:

He has a private pilot’s license (though he doesn’t get a chance to use it very often).

He used to work on a cattle ranch, riding with the ranch hands and taking care of a large cattle operation.

Wes is an avid trap shooter and enjoys participating in trap shooting competitions.

Do you know of a co-worker that you’d like to see profiled on the blog? Email stacey.ross@tshstl.com with your suggestions!